Thought I'd Seen Everything at Mass...

[adstrinity]

“At least the children are there.”

I don’t think that. They are clearly not, nor do they want to be. If they were truly there, they would not take their eyes off the altar.

Ugh. This is the OF Mass, isn’t it? Where the priest mostly sits down and lets other people do readings and such…

 

[FickleFreckled]

Kids eventually become their parents. There’s a family that often sits in the pew in front of me when I sit in the main church area. The 3 kids are young, between 4 and 7 I would say. They’re the best behaved kids. They like to cuddle w/mom and dad, and that’s ok. When it’s time to kneel, they kneel, fold their little hands and bow their heads, just like mom and dad. The parents are devout so the kids are.

 

[Serap]

Do you mean if the Apostles started playing cards during the Last Supper?

Teenagers are youths, not adults (like the Apostles). You can’t compare the two.

 

[Condottiero]

When I was about eight or so, I use to fidget a lot, especially during the homilies. I probably would still be fidgeting today, or equally likely not to be there at all, if my parents hadn’t been firm with me and taught me how to behave like an adult rather than some kind of spastic lemur, and that Mass was one of those places where you pay attention and be on your best behaviour.

Game Boys, chattering, snacking, and ‘frisky business’ have no place during the Mass and should be admonished. Would you let kids get away with that sort of thing during school? One of the problems with the past few genererations is that most do not have a proper and well-formed sense of respect. :^P

Teenagers are youths, not adults (like the Apostles). You can’t compare the two.

Teenagers are still old enough to know what proper respect and reverence are, and the difference between good behaviours and bad.

 

[teachccd]

Teenagers are youths, not adults (like the Apostles). You can’t compare the two.

Really?? So the Apostles were old men? Wow, if John wrote his Gospel in the year 95-100 A.D. as scholars suggest then how old was he when he died? Besides, children are the extension of the adults who are their stewards. I can definitely compare the two. Teenagers are young adults and they definitely know better. Quit trying to feed a fire of disrespect. I see plenty of teenagers who do know how to act.

I was a teenager and I wouldn’t have entertained the thought of being disrespectful at Mass. But then in those days we didn’t tell our parents where to go either…teachccd

 

[Serap]

Kids eventually become their parents. There’s a family that often sits in the pew in front of me when I sit in the main church area. The 3 kids are young, between 4 and 7 I would say. They’re the best behaved kids. They like to cuddle w/mom and dad, and that’s ok. When it’s time to kneel, they kneel, fold their little hands and bow their heads, just like mom and dad. The parents are devout so the kids are.

Not everyone is from a loving family unfortunately. I hope some of you can see my perspective a little bit. It may be black and white to most of you, but this is not a perfect world.

We need to help these youths see God through our kindness. We need to befriend them and relate to them on their level. Kindness will bring them back to God and judgements will push them away.

 

[teachccd]

When I was about eight or so, I use to fidget a lot, especially during the homilies. I probably would still be fidgeting today, or equally likely not to be there at all, if my parents hadn’t been firm with me and taught me how to behave like an adult rather than some kind of spastic lemur, and that Mass was one of those places where you pay attention and be on your best behaviour.

Game Boys, chattering, snacking, and ‘frisky business’ have no place during the Mass and should be admonished. Would you let kids get away with that sort of thing during school? One of the problems with the past few genererations is that most do not have a proper and well-formed sense of respect. :^P

Again another nail hit on the head!!

 

[Serap]

Really?? So the Apostles were old men? Wow, if John wrote his Gospel in the year 95-100 A.D. as scholars suggest then how old was he when he died? Besides, children are the extension of the adults who are their stewards. I can definitely compare the two. Teenagers are young adults and they definitely know better. Quit trying to feed a fire of disrespect. I see plenty of teenagers who do know how to act.

I was a teenager and I wouldn’t have entertained the thought of being disrespectful at Mass. But then in those days we didn’t tell our parents where to go either…teachccd

That’s why I stated “for their time”. People are maturing at a much slower rate in our society. Things have decayed a lot.

How would St. Paul bring someone back to the faith? He would treat them with kindness and compassion and if he didn’t like their behaviour, he would tread lightly as to not push them away.

I’m not feeding a fire of disrespect. Because I didn’t parent them, it’s not up to me to try and parent them when it’s already too late and they are ignorant. It’s up to me to be kind and show them God’s love and acceptance no matter how they are acting.

 

[Apryl]

was a little late this morning for RCIA because I stayed to clean up crackers–whole and crumbs, at least 20 of them, from 3 pews (baptisms yesterday, am guessing lots of families with small children and uncatechized on church etiquette). Also picked up an empty snack size bag of cheetohs, a half-full bottle of sprite (with cap on, thank goodness), quantities of used tissue, and a wad of gum off the windowsill on the way out.

Church etiquette? That’s just plain old common sense!

I sometimes visit non-Catholic churches. It amazes me that I can go into a church with no Eucharist, no call for fasting before the reception of communion, and their services may be 2 or 3 hours long… but I don’t see people chewing gum, eating mints, or any of those things we were taught to avoid growing up.

And I see a lot of OLD (they have grandchildren in High School) that don’t seem to get it.

I would sometimes tell the grandchild in front of the parent and grandparent that the child was supposed to fast before receiving communion. Not only because of the rules of fasting, and because you are about to receive the Body and Blood of Christ, but also because it just is disrespectful to be in church and chewing.

The adults continue… repeatedly.

It’s not about church etiquette. It’s about etiquette.

 

[DocSoos]

I remember at a Mass, oh its been ten years ago or so. Seeing a homeless man sitting in the front pew. Well when the Priest started communion the old fellow walked up took the cup and in one gulp drank it all, he then walked out of Church as if nothing had happened.

Peace

 

[fbl9]

How very sad to read these posts…

I remember a long time ago my family and I went to a Christmas Eve Midnight Mass in the basement of the church (‘church hall’). There were a couple of teenage boys in the back, and I could hear them talking…about getting BEER afterwards!

hey i was one of them boys yes i know where you going with this thought,i remember back in the bad old days after the Easter vigil (i think) long time ago right after Mass i went out to a party where i met some one form our parish(who also was at Mass) made the comment about long Mass “i thought we would never get out of there to go partying.” partying was what we used to live for.for myself i have a new master one who is kind and merciful full of love for me and i know He even loved me when partying was my master.

 

[mercygate]

That’s why I stated “for their time”. People are maturing at a much slower rate in our society. Things have decayed a lot.

How would St. Paul bring someone back to the faith? He would treat them with kindness and compassion and if he didn’t like their behaviour, he would tread lightly as to not push them away.

I’m not feeding a fire of disrespect. Because I didn’t parent them, it’s not up to me to try and parent them when it’s already too late and they are ignorant. It’s up to me to be kind and show them God’s love and acceptance no matter how they are acting.

I guess you haven’t read the two Epistles to the Corinthians?

 

[Serap]

I guess you haven’t read the two Epistles to the Corinthians?

The point I’m trying to make is that these teenagers will grow up in time and kindness goes a lot further than anger.

I’m not advocating or condoning their behaviour which seems to be the tone of the responses.

I am not well educated theologist. I’m just a humble servant to God who returned back to her faith and knows what it’s like to be ignorant and ill-behaved. I know what it’s like to be a lost soul in need of help.

 

[benedictgal]

That’s why I stated “for their time”. People are maturing at a much slower rate in our society. Things have decayed a lot.

How would St. Paul bring someone back to the faith? He would treat them with kindness and compassion and if he didn’t like their behaviour, he would tread lightly as to not push them away.

I’m not feeding a fire of disrespect. Because I didn’t parent them, it’s not up to me to try and parent them when it’s already too late and they are ignorant. It’s up to me to be kind and show them God’s love and acceptance no matter how they are acting.

Methinks you might want to re-read St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. There were no hearts nor flowers there, especially when he had some stern words to say to them about their conduct during the liturgy. This letter actually bears the first statement on liturgical abuse and it it appropros here:

21 For every one taketh before his own supper to eat. And one indeed is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What, have you not houses to eat and to drink in? Or despise ye the church of God; and put them to shame that have not? What shall I say to you? Do I praise you? In this I praise you not. 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread. 24 And giving thanks, broke, and said: Take ye, and eat: this is my body, which shall be delivered for you: this do for the commemoration of me. 25 In like manner also the chalice, after he had supped, saying: This chalice is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as often as you shall drink, for the commemoration of me.

26 For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall show the death of the Lord, until he come. 27 Therefore whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man prove himself: and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of the chalice. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord. 30 Therefore are there many infirm and weak among you, and many sleep.

Thus, St. Paul didnt mince any words.

It’s not enough to bring the kids to Mass. We need to teach them the proper respect and decorum. However, if parents don’t even know that, then that is the symptom of a greater problem.

 

[mercygate]

Methinks you might want to re-read St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. There were no hearts nor flowers there, especially when he had some stern words to say to them about their conduct during the liturgy. This letter actually bears the first statement on liturgical abuse and it it appropros here:

Thus, St. Paul didnt mince any words.

It’s not enough to bring the kids to Mass. We need to teach them the proper respect and decorum. However, if parents don’t even know that, then that is the symptom of a greater problem.

Just to lighten this up, I once heard a priest start his homily on 2 Corinthians by saying, “Well, we have these two letters from Paul to the Corinthians, but we don’t have the letters they wrote back!”

I let out a snort & guffaw . . . and was the only one in the church who responded to what I thought was a hysterical joke.

 

[Serap]

It’s not enough to bring the kids to Mass. We need to teach them the proper respect and decorum. However, if parents don’t even know that, then that is the symptom of a greater problem.

I agree and thank you for providing that passage for me to read. I am a convert also and my theology is limited. It seems like the more I read, the less I know

What about the teenagers who’s parents have not taught them the proper way to behave? Telling them off will just make them leave the church. They are ignorant. How do you get them to listen and believe?

How should the church reach out to disgruntled youths? What’s the solution? Instead of us battling it out here on CAF, does anyone have a constructive idea of reaching out to them?

Does anyone know of an outreach program that is working in their church?

 

[Condottiero]

I’m not advocating or condoning their behaviour which seems to be the tone of the responses.

But in tolerating the misbehaiving kids and not correcting their mistakes, you’re silently condoning the behaviour. If two kids are making out in the back row during Mass and you don’t turn the hose on them, they’re going to keep making out.

 

[teachccd]

That’s why I stated “for their time”. People are maturing at a much slower rate in our society. Things have decayed a lot.

How would St. Paul bring someone back to the faith? He would treat them with kindness and compassion and if he didn’t like their behaviour, he would tread lightly as to not push them away.

I’m not feeding a fire of disrespect. Because I didn’t parent them, it’s not up to me to try and parent them when it’s already too late and they are ignorant. It’s up to me to be kind and show them God’s love and acceptance no matter how they are acting.

I teach religious education to Junior High kids. I have a group that started with me in sixth grade and will complete their confirmation with me at the end of tenth grade. They all wanted to be in my group throughout the years. I do show them love and acceptance but I also teach respect. Respect is the way that we show our love. No, I also am not their parents. But as role models, outside of their immediate family, we must acknowledge bad behavior whether in Mass, at the mall or in school.

I know that the decaying of respect in today’s society will lead to those who will discern utilizing the tools of disrespect. They will lash out and leave. But in Mass we cannot succomb to the acceptance of irreverence. Jesus died for us and whether or not these kids know where we are during Mass does not negate the fact that we are at the foot of the cross. And that is the bottom line. Read St. Paul’s letters to the Romans and Corinthians to see how “kind” he was to those who practiced immorality. He also layed down the bottom line…teachccd

 

[phil8888]

“At least the children are there.”

I don’t think that. They are clearly not, nor do they want to be. If they were truly there, they would not take their eyes off the altar.

Ugh. This is the OF Mass, isn’t it? Where the priest mostly sits down and lets other people do readings and such…

What’s OF?

 

[Condottiero]

What’s OF?

Ordinary Form.